Israel Releases Lebanese Plane; Was Intercepted over Israel Territory

Israel authorities today released the pilot, passengers and Lebanese passenger plane which was intercepted this morning over Israel by Israel fighter aircraft. An Israel military spokesman said the plane, with its four passengers, took off for Beirut, its original destination, after an investigation at the Haifa airport.

The plane, which had been chartered by a British firm operating in Lebanon and Jordan, was driven by a British pilot, who said he had drifted off course because of faulty instruments. Two of the passengers were a British couple, one a New Zealander and one a Lebanese. The flight started at Port Said.